Blueberry plant named ‘ZF06-043’

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-043’ is provided. ‘ZF06-043’ is an ornamental variety intended for nursery, landscape, and home garden use. The new variety has deep green foliage with pink and orange new growth, which turns a deep purple color in the fall, retaining its foliage throughout the winter. ‘ZF06-043’ has a round, compact growth habit. The new variety ripens in mid-July and produces mildly sweet, firm berries in moderately loose clusters. The plant is moderately vigorous, with an estimated chilling requirement of 500 hours.

Latin name of the family, genus, and species: Family—Ericaceae.Genus—Vaccinium. Species—corymbosum.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘ZF06-043’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of northern highbush blueberry hybrid known as a Vacciniumcorymbosum hybrid and referred to as ‘ZF06-043’, as herein described andillustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-043’ was selected in Lowell,Oreg., in 2006. ‘ZF06-043’ is an ornamental variety intended fornursery, landscape, and home garden use. The new variety has deep greenfoliage with pink and orange new growth, which turns a deep purple colorin the fall, retaining its foliage throughout the winter. ‘ZF06-043’ hasa round, compact growth habit. The new variety ripens in mid-July andproduces mildly sweet, firm berries in moderately loose clusters. Theplant is moderately vigorous, with an estimated chilling requirement of500 hours.

The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘Toro’ (pollenparent, unpatented) by ‘FLX-2’ (female parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,381). The female parent was produced by a cross between ‘FL92-9’(unpatented) and ‘Sunshineblue’ (unpatented). The pollen parent wasproduced by a cross between ‘Earliblue’ (unpatented) and ‘Ivanhoe’(unpatented). The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-043’ has beenplanted in replicated trials since 2007.

The new variety differs from the patented female parent ‘FLX-2’ in that‘ZF06-043’ is smaller in size and has more pronounced orange and pinkleaf color.

The new variety differs from the unpatented pollen parent ‘Toro’ in that‘ZF06-043’ is smaller in size, has smaller leaves, and has pronouncedorange and pink leaf color.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-043’ has maintained itsdistinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexualpropagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproducedthrough softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones arephenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF06-043’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment and cultural practices, such astemperature and light intensity, without any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., andare determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberryplant variety ‘ZF06-043’:

-   -   1. Deep green foliage with pink and orange new growth;    -   2. Deep purple fall foliage;    -   3. Foliage remains on the plant throughout the winter;    -   4. Compact growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show, in full color, typicalspecimens of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘ZF06-043’. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘ZF06-043’, demonstrating theplant's compact growth habit.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘ZF06-043’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘ZF06-043’.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the fall foliage of the new variety‘ZF06-043’.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the pink and orange new growth of the newvariety ‘ZF06-043’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘ZF06-043’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of theoriginal selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristicsare approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. Theplant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, andthe descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg.Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by LeatriceEiseman and Lawrence Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, NewYork, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colorsin the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification:    -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.        -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.        -   c. Species.—corymbosum.        -   d. Common name—Highbush blueberry.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—FLX-2 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,381).        -   Male parent.—Toro (unpatented).-   Market class: ‘ZF06-043’ is an ornamental blueberry variety intended    for the nursery, landscape, and home gardening market.

PLANT

-   Plant size: Medium-sized and round.    -   -   a. Height of plant.—Average of 23 inches (about 58 cm).        -   b. Canopy diameter.—Average of 20 inches (about 51 cm).-   Growth habit: Compact and round.-   Plant vigor: Moderate, produces an average of 4 new canes per year.-   Twigginess: Low.-   Suckering: No suckering has been noted.-   Evergreenness: Evergreen in Lowell, Oreg.-   Chilling requirement: Approximately 500 hours of temperatures at or    below 45° F. (about 7° C.).-   Cold hardiness: Expected range of adaptability USDA hardiness zones    6-8.-   Productivity: In Lowell, Oreg., the average per plant harvest weight    on 3-year-old plants is 3 lbs (about 1.36 kg).-   Propagation: Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.-   Disease resistance/susceptibility:    -   -   a. Phytophthora.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.        -   b. Stem blight.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.        -   c. Cane canker.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.        -   d. Leaf spot.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.        -   e. Bud mites.—Does not appear to be overly susceptible.-   Survival: Good. Plants grow and survive well in both nursery and    field settings.

TRUNK AND BRANCHES

-   Surface texture:    -   -   a. Surface texture new wood.—Smooth.        -   b. Surface texture 1-year wood.—Smooth.        -   c. Surface texture 3-year and older wood.—Smooth turning to            rough.-   Color:    -   -   a. Color new wood.—Pantone Green Banana 14-0434.        -   b. Color 1-year wood.—Pantone Green Banana 14-0434.        -   c. Color 3-year and older wood.—Pantone Sand 15-1225 and            Pantone Cocoa Brown 18-1222.

FOLIAGE

-   Internode length: Average of 14.6 mm.-   Leaf dimensions:    -   -   a. Leaf length.—Average of 44.7 mm.        -   b. Leaf width.—Average of 27.93 mm.-   Leaf shape: Elliptical, with acute apex and base.-   Leaf margin: Entire.-   Leaf color upper leaf surface:    -   -   a. New leaf color.—Pantone Green Banana 14-0434, with tips            Pantone Apricot Brandy 17-1540 and Pantone Crabapple            16-1532.        -   b. Mature leaf color.—Pantone Cypress 18-0322.-   Leaf color lower leaf surface: Pantone Sage 16-0421.-   Pubescence:    -   -   a. Pubescence upper leaf surface.—Absent.        -   b. Pubescence lower leaf surface.—Absent.        -   c. Pubescence leaf margins.—Absent.-   Precocity: Flowers appear before new vegetative growth in Lowell,    Oreg.-   Petiole:    -   -   a. Petiole length.—Average length of 3.38 mm.        -   b. Petiole color.—Top surface Pantone Celery Green 13-0532,            underside Pantone Sweet Pea 15-0531.        -   c. Petiole surface texture.—Smooth.

FLOWERS

-   Flower arrangement: Arranged alternately along the distal portion of    the branch.-   Fragrance: Faint, sweet fragrance.-   Flower shape: Urceolate.-   Flower bud density: Moderate.-   Flower length: Average length of 8.3 mm.-   Immature flower color: Pantone Pastel Parchment 11-0603 and Pantone    Bubblegum 17-1928.-   Flowering cluster: Moderately loose.-   Flowering period: First flowers appear in mid-April through the end    of May.-   Number of flowers: Average of 4-5 flowers per cluster.-   Stigma location: Average of 0.5 mm beyond the lip of the corolla.-   Corolla:    -   -   a. Corolla length.—Average of 5.5 mm.        -   b. Corolla diameter.—Average of 5.8 mm.        -   c. Corolla color.—Pantone Pastel Parchment 11-0603.        -   d. Corolla surface texture.—Smooth.        -   e. Corolla aperture.—Average of 6.4 mm.-   Calyx:    -   -   a. Calyx diameter.—Average of 4.2 mm.        -   b. Calyx color.—Pantone Spinach Green 16-0439.        -   c. Calyx surface texture.—Smooth.-   Flower pedicel:    -   -   a. Pedicel length.—Average of 3 mm.        -   b. Pedicel color.—Pantone Spinach Green 16-0439.        -   c. Pedicel surface texture.—Smooth.-   Flower peduncle:    -   -   a. Peduncle length.—Average of 9 mm.        -   b. Peduncle color.—Pantone Mellow Green 12-0426.        -   c. Peduncle surface texture.—Smooth.-   Style length: Average of 5.7 mm.-   Pistil color: Pantone Herbal Garden 15-0336.-   Anther:    -   -   a. Anther length.—Average of 4.2 mm.        -   b. Anther color.—Pantone Red Ochre 18-1442.-   Pollen:    -   -   a. Pollen staining.—95% fertile, staining using 2%            acetocarmine stain.        -   b. Pollen abundance.—High.        -   c. Pollen color.—Pantone Mellow Yellow 12-0720.-   Self compatibility: Good, 80% of self pollinated flowers reaching    maturity.

FRUIT

-   Mean harvest date first pick: July 26.-   Mean harvest date last pick: August 2.-   Calyx:    -   -   a. Calyx aperture.—Average of 5.3 mm.        -   b. Calyx lobes.—Small.        -   c. Calyx depth.—Average of 0.69 mm.-   Berry cluster: Moderately loose.-   Berry pedicel length: Average of 7 mm.-   Berry peduncle length: Highly variable, averaging 14.9 mm.-   Berries per cluster: Average of 3-5 berries per cluster.-   Berry detachment: Easy detachment force.-   Berry weight: Average of 1.2 g.-   Berry height: Average of 10.43 mm.-   Berry width: Average of 16.1 mm.-   Berry shape: Globose.-   Berry color:    -   -   a. Immature berry color.—Pantone Green Banana 14-0434 and            Pantone Crabapple 16-1532.        -   b. Berry skin color on plant.—Pantone Gray Dawn 14-4106.        -   c. Berry skin color after harvest.—Pantone Lilac Gray            14-3903.        -   d. Berry skin color after polishing.—Pantone India Ink            19-4019.-   Berry wax: Medium wax, moderately persistent.-   Berry flesh color: Pantone White Jade 12-0315.-   Pedicel scar: Small, dry scar, averaging 1.5 mm in diameter.-   Berry firmness: Moderately firm.-   Berry flavor: Mildly sweet.-   Berry texture: Smooth.-   Seeds per berry: Average of 26 seeds per fruit.

SEEDS

-   Seed color: Pantone Carnelian 16-1435.-   Seed length: Average of 1.54 mm.-   Seed width: Average of 1.08 mm.-   Seed weight: Average of 0.5 mg.

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘ZF06-043’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.